Weekly Science Report

February 16, 2018

“In the history of the world there have been thousands of kings and emperors who
called themselves 'their highnesses,' 'their majesties,' and 'their exalted majesties'
and so on. They shone for a brief moment, and as quickly disappeared. But Ashoka
shines and shines brightly like a bright star, even unto this day.”
H.G. Wells on Ashoka the Great

Introduction

Steve Detwiler created this publication with the support of Graham Hancock and John
Anthony West to share news and information on various disciplines to include but not
limited to paleontology, space sciences, genetics and archaeology. His goal behind
sharing this publication has always been very simple, by sharing knowledge we can make
our world a better place. This publication is Mr. Detwiler’s contribution to bring people
together and share ideas and discoveries with his fellow humans.

I hope you enjoy this publication and that the content challenges and inspires you!

The Weekly Science Report is also on social media at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weeklysciencerpt/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wklysciencerpt

News Articles

Paleontology, Evolution and Prehistoric Studies

Young Tourist Finds 90-Million-Year-Old Fish Fossil at Colombian Monastery
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/90-million-year-old-fish-fossil-discovered-colombian-
monastery-180968025/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=socialmedia

Prehistoric wine discovered in inaccessible caves forces a rethink of ancient Sicilian culture

https://theconversation.com/prehistoric-wine-discovered-in-inaccessible-caves-forces-a-rethink-of-ancient-
sicilian-culture-89116

Study identifies traces of indigenous 'Taíno' in present-day Caribbean populations

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-02/sjcu-sit021518.php

Interdisciplinary approach yields new insights into human evolution

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-02/vu-iay021318.php

Ancient trail of Columbian mammoths uncovered in south-central Oregon

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-02/uoo-ato021218.php

Plants colonized the Earth 100 million years earlier than previously thought

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-colonized-earth-million-years-earlier.html

Early Hominin Footprints May Reveal Children’s Activities

https://www.archaeology.org/news/6386-180216-ethiopia-melka-kunture

This Ancient Society Buried Disabled Children Like Kings

https://www.livescience.com/61743-rich-paleolithic-burials.html

Bizarre 'Spider Stones' Found at Site of Neolithic Sun-Worshipers

https://www.livescience.com/61727-spider-stones-neolithic-sun-worship.html

History

Transcontinental Travel—2,000 Years Ago

https://www.sapiens.org/column/curiosities/hopewell-culture-transcontinental-travel/
The ‘real’ St. Valentine was no patron of love

https://theconversation.com/the-real-st-valentine-was-no-patron-of-love-90518

The Gory Origins of Valentine’s Day

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/gory-origins-valentines-day-180968156/?
utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=socialmedia

London City Airport closed after unexploded WWII bomb is found

https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/airplane-mode/london-city-airport-closed-after-unexploded-wwii-bomb-
found-n847051?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_nw

The Female Quran Experts Fighting Radical Islam in Morocco

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/02/the-female-quran-experts-fighting-radical-islam-in-
morocco/551996/

The Louvre Puts Nazi-Looted Art in Public Eye in Effort to Find Rightful Heirs
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/louvre-launches-new-galleries-nazi-looted-art-180968130/?
utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=socialmedia

Aiding Nazis in Mass Killing of Jews

http://www.aish.com/ci/s/Aiding-Nazis-in-Mass-Killing-of-Jews.html?s=feat

Plan to save Europe’s synagogues receives high-profile backing

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/03/save-synagogues-europe-jewish-heritage-simon-schama

UNESCO launches flagship initiative to revive the spirit of Mosul

http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/1783

The Axeman of New Orleans Preyed on Italian Immigrants

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/axeman-new-orleans-preyed-italian-immigrants-180968037/
Archaeology

Life-Size Camel Carvings Found in the Saudi Desert

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/life-size-camel-carvings-found-saudi-desert-180968169/?
utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=socialmedia

Police find antiquities worth NIS 200,000 in Palestinian man’s home

https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-find-antiquities-worth-nis-200000-in-palestinian-mans-home/?
platform=hootsuite

Rare Roman boxing gloves found near Hadrian's Wall

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/19/rare-roman-boxing-gloves-found-hadrians-wall

This Roman 'gate to hell' killed its victims with a cloud of deadly carbon dioxide

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/02/roman-gate-hell-killed-its-victims-cloud-deadly-carbon-dioxide

An archaeologist, a mysterious ancient citadel, and a vanishing world

http://popular-archaeology.com/issue/winter-2018/article/an-archaeologist-a-mysterious-ancient-citadel-and-
a-vanishing-world

Elongated heads were a mark of elite status in an ancient Peruvian society

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/elongated-heads-were-mark-elite-status-ancient-peruvian-society

Remains of an Iron Age fort found while excavating caves in England

https://www.usatoday.com/videos/news/world/2018/02/15/remains-iron-age-fort-found-while-excavating-
caves-england/110449194/

Serpent Mound might depict a creation story

http://www.dispatch.com/news/20180211/archaeology-serpent-mound-might-depict-creation-story

Egyptology
Egyptian ibis mummy holds clues to crooks behind ancient clothing caper

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/egyptian-ibis-mummy-holds-clues-to-crooks-behind-ancient-clothing-
caper

Egypt: Archaeologists discover priestess' 4,400-year-old tomb near pyramids outside Cairo

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/egypt-pyramid-giza-4400-tomb-hetpet-cairo-
archeology-a8192926.html

General Science

Ehang’s passenger-carrying drones look insanely impressive in first test flights

https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/5/16974310/ehang-passenger-carrying-drone-first-test-flight

Quantum computers 'one step closer'

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43065485

Physics, Earth and Space Sciences

The Trump administration wants to turn the International Space Station into a commercially run venture,
NASA document shows

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/the-trump-administration-wants-to-turn-the-international-space-
station-into-a-commercially-run-venture-nasa-document-shows/ar-BBIZvj7?ocid=ob-fb-enus-580

Secrets of solar flares are unlocked

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-42979043
NASA is keeping tabs on Elon Musk's Tesla roadster

http://money.cnn.com/2018/02/10/technology/future/nasa-elon-musk-spacex-tesla-roadster/index.html

PHOTOS: These Images Were Captured Nearly 3.8 Billion Miles From Earth

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/11/584944598/photos-these-images-were-captured-nearly-
3-8-billion-miles-from-earth?sc=tw

The Next Falcon Heavy Will Carry the Most Powerful Atomic Clock Ever Launched into Space

https://www.livescience.com/61704-atomic-clock-space-falcon-heavy.html

'Oumuamua had a violent past and has been tumbling around for billions of years

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-oumuamua-violent-billions-years.html

Astronomers conduct a multi-frequency study of the Milky Way-like spiral galaxy NGC 6744

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-astronomers-multi-frequency-milky-way-like-spiral.html

Is Humanity Ready for the Discovery of Alien Life?

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-humanity-ready-for-the-discovery-of-alien-life/

Super secretive space defense center near Colorado Springs begins 24-hour operations

http://gazette.com/article/1621233

Environment, Climate Change and Alternative Energy Sources

The Future Of Energy Isn't Fossil Fuels Or Renewables, It's Nuclear Fusion

https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2017/04/12/the-future-of-energy-isnt-fossil-fuels-or-renewables-its-
nuclear-fusion/amp/?utm_source=TWITTER&utm_medium=social&utm_term=Malorie
%2F&__twitter_impression=true

Smart windows could block brightness and harness light

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/smart-windows-could-block-brightness-and-harness-light

China reassigns 60,000 soldiers to plant trees in bid to fight pollution

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-tree-plant-soldiers-reassign-climate-change-global-warming-
deforestation-a8208836.html?utm_campaign=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook

Lions reportedly devour suspected poacher in South Africa

http://abcnews.go.com/International/lions-reportedly-devour-suspected-poacher-south-africa/story?
id=53025850

Trump budget would fund Interior projects by selling energy from public lands

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/373467-wh-interior-dept-budget-would-fund-infrastructure-
projects-through

We Can Now Harvest Electricity From Earth's Heat Using Quantum Tunnelling

https://www.sciencealert.com/quantum-tunnelling-could-harvest-energy-from-planet-infrared-heat

Diesel is dying – let steam trains ride to the rescue

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/12/diesel-steam-trains-rail-electricity

Energy Department to invest $6.5M in projects aiming to improve the performance of coal

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/374018-doe-to-invest-65-million-in-projects-aiming-to-improve-
the
"It's a big deal": Melting ice sheets are accelerating sea level rise

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/its-a-big-deal-melting-ice-sheets-are-accelerating-sea-level-rise/

The surprising source of much U.S. air pollution

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-surprising-source-of-much-us-air-pollution/

Biological, Genetics and Medical Sciences

DNA tests for UK’s nuclear bomb veterans

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-43075718
DNA secrets of how vampire bats became bloodthirsty

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43112650

'100,000 orangutans' killed in 16 years

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-42994630

What fluffy bunnies can tell us about domestication: It didn't go the way you think

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-02/cp-wfb020818.php

Study looks at how newly discovered gene helps grow blood vessels

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-02-newly-gene-blood-vessels.html

Pausing evolution makes bioproduction of chemicals affordable and efficient

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-evolution-bioproduction-chemicals-efficient.html

Seismic Surveys Planned Off U.S. Coast Pose Risk To Marine Life

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/19/586061334/seismic-surveys-planned-off-u-s-coast-pose-risk-to-
marine-life

Other

“Sonic Weapon Attacks” on U.S. Embassy Don’t Add Up—for Anyone

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/ldquo-sonic-weapon-attacks-rdquo-on-u-s-embassy-don-rsquo-t-
add-up-mdash-for-anyone/
Trump’s Science Advisor, Age 31, Has a Political Science Degree

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trump-rsquo-s-science-advisor-age-31-has-a-political-science-
degree/

Additional Informational

Here Are the Ancient Sites ISIS Has Damaged and Destroyed

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/09/150901-isis-destruction-looting-ancient-sites-iraq-syria-
archaeology/?_ga=2.210272725.1727311793.1516641647-
1760952812.1495725400&utm_source=fb&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Content&utm_term=conten
t&utm_content=link_ngcfb20180210iraqdestruction

NEH Statement on Proposed FY 2019 Budget

https://www.neh.gov/news/press-release/2018-02-12-0

Statement from National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu

https://www.arts.gov/news/2018/statement-national-endowment-arts-chairman-jane-chu

Statement from PBS President and CEO Paula Kerger on Proposal to Eliminate Federal Funding for Public
Media
http://www.pbs.org/about/blogs/news/statement-from-pbs-president-and-ceo-paula-kerger-on-proposal-to-
eliminate-federal-funding-for-public-media/

IMLS DIRECTOR DR. KATHRYN K. MATTHEW'S STATEMENT ON THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSED FY

2019 BUDGET

https://imls.gov/news-events/news-releases/imls-director-dr-kathryn-k-matthews-statement-presidents-
proposed-fy-2019

FAQS ON FY 2018 IMLS OPERATIONS AND THE PRESIDENT'S FY 2019 BUDGET REQUEST

https://www.imls.gov/about-us/legislation-budget/faqs-fy-2018-imls-operations-and-presidents-fy-2019-
budget-request?_ga=2.217033621.2020965539.1518455008-114443893.1505309311

Association of Art Museum Directors, Letter to President Trump Regarding Proposed Elimination of IMLS,
NEA, and NEH

https://aamd.org/for-the-media/press-release/letter-to-president-trump-regarding-proposed-elimination-of-
imls-nea-and

Recognizing Virginia Indians

http://www.virginiahumanities.org/2018/02/recognizing-virginia-indians/

SpaceX - Future for Mankind- Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0m_4-C_w02U&feature=share

In Memoriam: John Anthony West On Fade To Black February 13th

https://jimmychurchradio.com/in-memoriam-john-anthony-west-on-fade-to-black/

Holocaust Encyclopedia, THERESIA SEIBLE AND RITA PRIGMORE

https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/media_oi.php?ModuleId=0&MediaId=5094

In Broad Daylight: The Secret Procedures behind the Holocaust by Bullets

https://www.amazon.com/Broad-Daylight-Procedures-Holocaust-Bullets/dp/1628728574/ref=sr_1_2?
ie=UTF8&qid=1518697495&sr=8-2&keywords=in+broad+daylight

UNESCO Memory of the World Program

https://en.unesco.org/programme/mow

Memory of Mankind Project

https://www.memory-of-mankind.com/

En Route to the Moon: Creating a More Resilient Civil Space Architecture

https://www.csis.org/events/en-route-moon-creating-more-resilient-civil-space-architecture?
utm_source=CSIS+All&utm_campaign=d4f9c37388-
EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_09_26&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f326fc46b6-d4f9c37388-189939825

Shields up! Protecting the Enterprise From UV Rays

https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/shields-protecting-enterprise-uv-rays

Explore 5,300 Rare Manuscripts Digitized by the Vatican: From The Iliad & Aeneid, to Japanese & Aztec
Illustrations

http://www.openculture.com/2016/09/explore-5300-rare-manuscripts-digitized-by-the-vatican.html

Organise an Asteroid Day Event

https://asteroidday.org/event-guide/

She’s The Most Famous Sufi Woman In The World: Meet Rabia al-Adawiyya

http://mvslim.com/shes-the-most-famous-sufi-woman-in-the-world-meet-rabia-al-adawiyya/

The Bond Between Mary Todd Lincoln and Her Seamstress

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/arts-culture/the-bond-between-mary-todd-lincoln-and-her-
s/